Bruce William Van Zee

Dr. Bruce William Van Zee, one of three children of Edna (Boot) and William Van Zee, was born in Des Moines, Iowa on December 16, 1941. Bruce grew up in Prairie City, Iowa where he graduated from high school in 1960. Following school, Bruce attended Iowa State University where he was a member of the FarmHouse Fraternity. On August 21, 1965, Bruce and Joy Elaine Beckman were married at Swede Valley Lutheran Church in Ogden, Iowa. They made their home in Ames while Bruce continued his studies. In 1966, Bruce received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine with distinction and high honors. In July of 1966, he and Joy moved to Oakland, Iowa where Bruce partnered with Dr. Walt Christensen. In 1981, Bruce became a sole practitioner and established the Riverside Animal Hospital. In 1989, he established Van Zee Nursery. Bruce and Joy's marriage was blessed with two children, Justin William and Angela Joy. Bruce was always a very active member of the community. He and Joy belonged to the UCC Church in Oakland where Bruce taught Sunday School and sang bass in the choir. He and Joy attended the Carson Presbyterian Church and United Methodist Church where Bruce could be...[more]

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und in the choir. He was an active member of Grist Mill for 30 years where he sang and performed in musicals groups, an E.M.T. and 25 year member of the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department. Bruce volunteered to plant trees along Oakland's corridor and planted 130 trees at Oaklawn Cemetery. He was a member of the Oakland School Board during the construction of the new addition. He served as President of the Oakland Shademakers, the Optimist Club, the Oakland Commercial Club, and was a member of the Industrial Foundation and Lions Club. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of the Tangier Shrine, and Scottish Rite. Bruce served as an East and West Pott. County Fair veterinarian, as well as President of the Pott. County Cattlemen's Assn. receiving the Pott. County Beef Promoter Award. He was the veterinarian for the Carson Community Rodeo and the Iowa High School Rodeo. He served as a 4-H Leader and was named the East Pott. County Friend of 4-H in 1990 and 2002. Bruce served on the Pott. County Ext. Committee, the Iowa Veterinary Examiner's Board for nine years, and in 1997 was named Iowa Veterinarian of the Year. He was a member of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and served on the Executive Board, the Public Relations Committee, and the Bovine Practitioner Committee. He was also a member of the IVMA, AVMA, AASV, AABP, AVC, and SWIAVA. Bruce loved his work and was featured in several ag. and trade magazines over the years. Bruce was at work doing what he loved when he was struck by a bull. He later died as a result of his injuries at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha, NE. Joy and Bruce had been married 40 years when Bruce died on October 6, 2005 at the age of 63. He was preceded in death by his father William; infant brother Ronald; and in-laws, Ray and Leontine Beckman. Bruce is survived by his wife Joy Van Zee of Oakland, IA; son Justin Van Zee of Las Cruces, NM; daughter Angela Mortland and her husband John of Navarre, FL; mother Edna Van Zee of Prairie City, IA; sister Mary Pepper of Ames, IA; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends. Funeral services were held on October 11, 2005 at the Oakland United Methodist Church with private interment in the Oaklawn Cemetery. Hertz Funeral Home of Carson in charge of arrangements.